No Lake Oroville fireworks, but smaller show possible

OROVILLE — Despite a last-ditch effort over the past week to revive plans for a fireworks show on Lake Oroville, the on-again, off-again plans are dead.

There will not be fireworks this year on Lake Oroville, according to Kevin Dossey, senior civil engineer for the Department of Water Resources.

Oroville City Councilor Cheri Bunker has spearheaded a new effort to have a smaller-scale fireworks show at Nelson Park Complex in Thermalito, but it's pending official approval by the Feather River Recreation and Park District.

FRRPD meets at 10 a.m. today to discuss the proposal.

Some questions remain about the safety of fireworks at Nelson Park, which is surrounded by grassy hills and fields and is adjacent to the freeway.

Dossey said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon the Lake Oroville show was definitely "off."

This newspaper reported on June 4 that DWR official Bill Cochrane had said there would not be fireworks, but some people continued trying to put it together after that.

Dossey said Wednesday the DWR had set a deadline of May 21.

"We would need that much lead time," Dossey said.

The agency puts in around $75,000 to $80,000 worth of in-kind service for the show each year, involving at least 30 employees.

Although the show is usually organized and a contract completed by March or early April, that didn't happen this year.

Kelly Ridge resident Dixie Fleming stepped forward and scrambled toward the end of May to put together commitments at the last minute, and on June 3 told the Mercury-Register she had promises of $10,000.

However, that night, word was received that some sponsors had pulled out

"That's why we said we couldn't commit," Dossey said. "There was no money in hand."

Dossey said he spoke with Mayor Linda Dahlmeier Tuesday, and she assured him she secured money from Recology to go forward.

After a last-ditch effort to try to work it out with staff, Dossey said it just wouldn't happen. It was too late.

"It was not enough lead time," Dossey reiterated. "We just can't do it this time."

He also said it would be hard for anyone to have fireworks at the lake without the DWR participating.

"No, they couldn't move forward unless we were," he said.

Dahlmeier said she was out of town on personal business June 3, but got a phone call about the issue and stepped up to help.

"I was trying to save something at the 11th hour that should have been handled prior to this date," she said in a phone call Wednesday.

She said with one phone call, she got a commitment from Recology, but she was told Tuesday by Dossey that DWR wouldn't go forward.

"It is too late," she said. "It happened, and I respectfully accept this ..."

There is disagreement about whose responsibility it was to organize the event. Dahlmeier's opinion was that it's the Chamber of Commerce's responsibility because of a contract it has to promote the Fourth of July at Lake Oroville.

Chamber President Claudia Knaus disagreed and said the Chamber's role has never been to organize the fireworks, but to facilitate the contract. She also said the Chamber promotes the event through advertising once it's ready to happen.

As for the future, Knaus and DWR official Cochrane indicated previously the best thing would be for citizens to form a committee to organize the event and make sure funds are obtained in a timely manner.

Dahlmeier said there is no shortage of people who are willing to step forward.

Reach Barbara Arrigoni at 533-3136, barrigoni@orovillemr.com, or on Twitter @OMRBarbara.